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As of March 25, 2025, authorities continue to investigate a serious DUI crash that occurred in an active construction zone on U.S. Highway 101 in Eureka, California, in September 2020. The incident left a 20-year-old worker with major injuries and led to the arrest of the driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The crash happened around 11:24 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, near the intersection of Broadway and Sunset Drive. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Humboldt Area office, the driver, 26-year-old Selah Town of Carlotta, was operating a black 2016 GMC Yukon northbound on Highway 101 when she crossed from the left lane into a closed right lane that was part of an active Caltrans construction zone.
The crew member struck by the SUV was identified as Ronnie Franklin, 20, of McKinleyville. CHP said Franklin was working in the closed lane at the time of the collision. He suffered major injuries—including multiple fractures and internal trauma—and was transported to St. Joseph Hospital for emergency treatment. Town sustained only suspected minor injuries and was arrested at the scene on suspicion of an alcohol-related DUI.
Court records reviewed in March 2025 indicate that Town has entered a not guilty plea to charges of felony DUI causing injury and driving with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit. Her case has been continued multiple times, with a pretrial hearing now scheduled for May 2025. She remains free on bail with conditions including no alcohol consumption and restricted driving privileges.
The crash has renewed attention on the dangers faced by highway construction workers, especially those working at night. According to CHP Humboldt Area Officer Mark Reynolds (name anonymized per policy), “This incident is a stark reminder that even in clearly marked work zones, impaired or inattentive drivers can cause devastating harm. We urge all motorists to slow down, move over, and never drive under the influence.”
Data obtained from CHP’s Humboldt Area Public Records Unit shows that between 2020 and 2024, the county reported at least 17 DUI-related crashes in or near active construction zones on state highways. Two of those crashes resulted in fatal injuries to workers, while seven others, including the one involving Franklin, led to serious bodily harm.
Local safety advocacy group Humboldt County Safe Streets issued a statement following the crash’s renewed attention, calling for increased enforcement and better lighting in work zones. “We cannot afford to lose another worker to preventable crashes,” said the group’s director, Elena Ortiz. “Every driver passing through a construction zone should treat it like a school zone—with zero tolerance for distractions or impairment.”
Franklin’s family told local media in 2020 that he underwent multiple surgeries and faced months of rehabilitation. As of early 2025, Franklin has returned to work in a modified capacity but continues to experience chronic pain and limited mobility, according to a family representative.
